Favourites SMK Anderson fail to enter semi-finals

By S. SIVABALAN

PETALING JAYA: Favourites and 10-time champions SMK Anderson were knocked out of the MHF-Milo-Champions Schools hockey tournament when they lost 1-2 to SMK Seberang Temerloh in the quarter-finals in Kangar yesterday.

It was also a close call for defending champions Malacca High School.

The score read 0-0 at the end of regulation time against SMK Penang Free.

But they managed to squeeze into the last four with a slim 5-4 win in the penalty shoot-out.

Syakir Kamaruddin, Hanif Rahim, Zulhilmi Ali, Zulhafiz Ali and Dedy Ariyadi Jumaidi converted for Malacca High School.

In the quarter-final match involving Anderson and Seberang Temerloh, Hafizul Aslawi gave Anderson the early lead in the 21st minute off a penalty corner.

Seberang Temerloh’s Muhammad Dzahiruddin Ujang scored the equaliser off a field goal attempt, one minute before the break.

Zakhwan Shahran sealed the match for Seberang Temerloh from another field goal attempt in the 55th minute.

Seberang Temerloh team manager Wan Mazlan Wan Isa said his boys worked very hard for the win.

“This was not the first time we have managed to beat Anderson. In the Under-15 Tunas Cemerlang championship in Kuantan last year, we beat them 1-0. We came into the match as underdogs,” said Wan Mazlan.

“Our main tactic was to prevent Anderson from earning penalty corners.

“We studied their group matches and found out they scored most of the goals from penalty corners. We relied on counter attacks to score our goals.

“Our intention right now is to improve our fourth place finish last year. We have reached the semi-finals again which is a good achievement. I am confident the boys will be trying their best to reach the final.

“We will meet SMK Syed Hassan in the semi-finals. They are a strong side, so we have to be very careful,” he added.

Home